Pencil



. Patented July 3,

UNITED STATES 1,675,826 PATENT OFFICE.

wanna a. smegma, oi roar namson, IOWA, am) LUCII'EB .1. nosr', or unw- YOIBK, n. z; sam nos'r assreuon. 'ro sun swam rimcm Application semeste s-1m. Serial No. 42am.

Our invention relates to pencils, and has for one of its objects the provision of simple and eflicient means for propelling a lead out into operative position,-retracting or with-- ple and eflicient means for adjusting a lead into position in a pencil.

Astill further object is the provision of simple and eflicient means for holding a lead against rotation in a pencil.

Other objects will appear hereinaften. An embodiment of our invention is illus 20 trated in the accompainfiying drawing-, formingra part of this spec cation, andfin which ig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a pencil embodying our nvention;

Fig. 2 1s an enlarged longitudinal section of an end portion of the same; v r Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the lead 'clamp and fragment of a propelling rod used in the construction; f

Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but taken atsubstantialllyv right angles to the yiew' taken in said 3; ,Fig. 5 is a view looking parts shown'in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of a as Fig. 1.

small end of the portion 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawiig we have indicated an outer shell or casing 701 a pencil having atapering portion 8 at its lower end and a lead 0 ening 9 at the e sha of the Leasing 7 may be varied, as desire or any preferred kind of decorations added to it.

Within the casing7-we-seoure a block 10 by means of solder 11. Said block 10 may be secured in the casing in any other desir-' per end of-block- 10 extends a tube 12 which as a lon itudinal slot 13 extending substantially its f 1 length.

able manner. From the u The tube 12 ma be formed integrally with block 10, as in icated, or attached to said ;ward or into block 10. A

block inan other desirable manner. It is preferable, owever, that the tube 12 be at;

"tachedsoasto be held against movement by -main part of sai slot 13; I The part 15 is adapted to move 1onupwardly at the forationregistering with the bore of tube 12,

and disposed within .said openin and bore 1s a feed rod 14. The upper en feed rod 14 is dis osed a right an les to the rod and exten s through gitudinally in slot 13 and prevents the rod 14 from turning.

Journaled on the outer side of tube 12 is a tube 16 having a spiral slot 17 therein. The end 15 of rod 14 1s dis osedin spiral slot 17 so that rotation of tu 16 causes'rod 14 to be moved longitudinally. Since slot 13 prevents rod 14 from turning, the rotation of tube16 causes slot 17 to move the rod.14 longitudinally. A burr 18 is provided at the upper end of tube 12 to hold the tube 16 against upward movement,and the block 10 holds the tube 16 against downward movement.

Dis osed around tube 16 is a tube 19 which exten s down substantially against block 10- and is secured to said tube; -16 in any desirable manner, such as by solder. lhe u though it 1s preferred not to permit the tube 19 to en- 15 of the gage the bore of easing 7. Near-the upper en of tube 19 we provide a head 20 whlch extends out against casing 7 and provides a bearin for the rotating parts.

At t e top of the'casing 7 is a head membor 21 havlng a constricted portion 22 extending'in and frictionall locking against the bore of tube 19 so that y holding casing 7 and turning1 the head 21 the latter throug its constricte tube 16 to move the rod 14 longitudinally.

The lower end of rod 14 extends into a portion 22- and tube 19 rotates cup-shaped clamp 23. The end of rod 14 in with asharp or knife edge 25'at the extreme end of said rod 14. The clamp 23 is indicat ed as tubular with a slot 26 in .one side so that it ma .yieldingly. clamp a lead 27. The enlarge part 24 prevents clamp 23 from pass ing off of rod 14.

In use head 21 is turned to withdraw rod 14' up into'or toward block 10 'and thismov- T mentof rod :14 draws lead clamp 23- up to guide tube 28 may be rovided. on block 10,.as indicated, for

gui i -lead clamp 23. Whenv the rod 14 and clamp 23 are withdrawn toward block I i V v H/ I 1- e .to use the lea 'wall of tapered portion 8 an 10 a lead 27 may be inserted through opening 9 into clamp 23. Then by rotatin head 21 in the proper direction rod 14 wil move lead 27 out into operative position, such as indicated in Fi 1. When it is not desired by rotating head 21 such lead' may be drawn up into the tapered portion 8 to prevent its becoming broken or damaged. The clamp 23 being in frictional engagement with said lead insures drawing back or retracting said lead within the casing.

When a lead has been used up until so short a piece remains that it is not useful, then by rotating head 21 until rod 14 is moved to its position indicated in Fig. 2 the lead will be expelled from opening 9, as clearly indicated. In such movement of the rod 14 lead clamp 23 will engage the inner rod 14 move on through said clamp so that its end extends beyond the end of tapered portion 8. When rod 14 is again withdrawn into the casing the enlarged head 24 will draw the clamp 23 back to its proper position.

The sharp edge 25 has a further function of cutting into the end of the lead and with the friction of such lead on the inner wall of the clamp 23 will hold the lead against rotation with respect to the pencil. The size and shape of head 24 may be varied as desired, but should have a sharp portion adapted to cut into the lead andp'revent its turning. The number of slots 26 may be varied as desired',.and also the sizes of such slots may be varied.

Since the clam 23 is loosely mounted on the rod '14 and t e latter has a lead-engaging head 24, these provide meanswh'erebythe lead may be propelled outwardly into o erative' position and retracted back into t e-bod of the pencil when not in use, or expelle entirely from the body, when so desired, by one single connection with the spiral portion for manipulating the lead.

repelling or retracting mechanism is operated the head 24 will engage the bottom of lead openin 9 into the clamp 23 to the bottom thereo so that it may be pressed firmly against the edge 25. When a lead is inserted in cup 23 the latter engages the periphery of the lead frictionally, but since the cup isloose on rod 14 it is necessary to have the cutting edge 25 cut into the end of the lead so as to lock the lead against turning with respect to the casing 7. If the lead were not locked against turning in the casing in onld also be noted that when theuse the lead would be worn with a flat side and make its use very difiicult, while if the lead is locked so that it cannot rotate in the casing it will be worn off evenly due to the constant shifting of the pencil in the hand of the user.

It should be particularly noted that the same mechanism which is relied upon to propel the lead outwardly through the lead opening and to retract or repel the lead is also relied upon to expel the lead from the lead holder 23 in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. The driving element 14 has only a single point of contact through the right angle extension 15 with the single spiral 17 slidablymounted on the rod, and an elon-.

gated sharp edge on the rod within-the cup adapted to co-operate with the latter to hold a lead against turning.

2. A pencil comprising a casing havin a lead openin in one end, a rod slidably mounted in t e casing in alinement with said lead opening, a cup-shaped lead clamp slidably mounted on said rod, and an enlargement on the rod within the cup having a Iead-engaging knife edge directed toward said lead opening.

3. A pencil comprisinga casing having a lead opening therein a lead clam adjacent said opening adapted to engage t e-sides of thereon adapted to engage the end of a lead in said clamp for holding such lead against rotation.

4. A pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening therein, a tubular lead clamp ol'pening toward said lead opening, a rod s idablymounted in the casing, held against rotation in said casing and extending into said lead clamp, and an elongated cutting edge on said rod in 'the'lead clamp adapted to cut into a lead in said clamp and co-operate with the latter to hold the lead against directed toward said lead opening, and new yielding means attached to the rod-within;

said lead holding cup adapted to engage a lead in the latter and hold such lead against rotary movement with respectto therod.

6. A pencil comprising a casin having a lead opening therein, a lead-ho ding cup having its inner wall substantially fitting the outside of a lead, a rod extending through and slidably mounted in said cup, there bein a cutting member on the rod directed towar the lead opening and extending substantially across the lead holding cup, and means in the casing associated with the rod 'for moving the latter toward said opening, said on being adapted for movement by said r into engagement with the casing and the rod being adapted to slide through the cup to said opening.

' 7. A pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening therein, a perforated block fixed in said casing, a longitudinally slotted tube having its bore in registration with the perforation of said block, a-rod mounted in said tube and extending into said block and having a' portion disposed throu h the avin an opening in its bottom slida ly mounted on said rod of a cross-section larger than said lead opening'and having its open side directed toward the latter, an enlargement on the end of said rod within said cup, with a cutting edge on said enlargement directed toward said lead opening, and a member having a spiral groove therein rotatably mounted. onsaid lon itudinally slotted-tube and having its spira slot engaging a portion of said rod.

8. A pencil co'mprisnga easing having a lead opening at one end thereof, a feed rod, acup-shaped tubular clamp mounted on said feed rod to have a longitudinal movement relatively thereto, means on the end of the said'rod inside of said clam but separate from said clamp and adapte' to co-operate with the clamp to hold the lead against turning relatively to the casin said holding means being at the bottom 0 the cup-shaped I clamp when the lead is inserted fully into the clamp, means for moving said feed rod longitudlnally to effect longltudinal 'movement of said clamp together with the lead therein in either directlon along the pencil, .and means for supporting said clampin position to engage an inner wall of the casin to limit the movement of the clamp towar said lead opening and thereby cause the movement of said feed rod and the holding means thereon from the bottom of the clams and longitudinally alon the latter to ex the lead from the penci 9. A pencil comprising a caslng having a lead opening there1n,'a' pusher rod mounted in the casin arid having an enlargement on its lower en with an elongated cutting edge onsaid enlargement, a'relatively short lead holding cup mounted axially of and slidable on the pusher rod, the enlargement on said pusher rod being disposed within said cup with said cutting edge extending substanaway from and its open end toward said lead:

opening, a pusher rod extending through said through the bottom of said cup,-and a wedgelike enlargement on the lower end of said pusher rod disposed within said cup adapted to prevent movement of the pusher rod ncil comprising a casing having a guide tube with an end extending out of the cupand to engage a lead for I holding the latter, against rotation.

11. A pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening therein, a leadclam adjacent said opening adapted to frictiona ly engage a lead, and means in the clamp for indenting the inner end of the lead while in said clamp holding the lead against rotation.

12. pencil comprisin a casing having a lead opening therein, alead clamp within said casin to frictionall engagea, lead,

and a kni e edged device in said clamp en;-'

gaging the inner end of the lead and olding said lead against rotation.

13. A pencil comprising a casing having .a

lead opening therein, a guide in the casing in alinement with the lead opening, a shoulder'at the end of the ide remote from said opening,'a feed rod s idably mounted in the guide, a lead clamp loosely mounted on the rod and slidably mounted in the uide, and means limiting the movement 0% the lead clamp on the rod in one direction but leaving the rod free to slide through said clam to expel the lead contained therein.

14. A pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening in one end thereof a guide in thecasing in alinement with said lead opening, a shoulder at that end of the. uide remotefrom the lead opening, a eed rod lead clamp loosely mounted on the rod and slidably mounted in the guide between said shoulder and said lead opening, and a head.

on the rod in the lead clamp adapted to engage the latter and retract it until it abuts .mountedfor reciprocation. in the. guide, a

against said shoulder upon retraction of the I rod away from said lead opening.

15. A pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening therein, a guide in the casin a lead clamp slidably mounted in the gui e "having a diameter reater than the diameter of said opening, a eed rod slidably mounted in the lead clamp and adapted for moveagainst-turning; O 20. A pencll-compnsmg ceasing having a ment into the lead opening and through the latter, an enlargement on the rod adapted to engzwe the lead clamp and move the latter in the guide upon movement of the rod 5 in one direction, and means in the guide adapted to engage the lead clamp and stop the latter to effect movement of t 1e enlargement of the rod to the bottom of the lead clamp.

16. A pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening in one end thereof, a guide in the casing in alinement with said lead opening with one end of the guide adjacent the lead opening, a feed rod extendinginto :'--aid guide and adapted to move into said lead opening, a lead clamp slidably mounted in said guide and having an openin in its bottom slidably engaging said ro and nonyielding means at the end of the rod inside -of said clamp for'indenting the inner end of the lead to prevent it from turning relatively to the casin when the pencil is being used, said non-yie lding means being larger in diameter than. the opening in-the bottom of said lead clamp and :erving to pull the lead clamp away from said lead opening along said guide upon retracting movement of said rod along the pencil,

17. A pencil comprising a holder having'a lead opening in one end thereof, an elongated cup-shaped lead clamp within the holder, an elongated guidewhy in which said lead clamp is fitted and along which'it is slidable while in alinement with said n ing to coeoperate with the latter to 1101 the lead in the openin during use of the pencil, means for prope ling and retracting-said .clam to adjust the'lead relative to said opening, and nonielding means at the botbut separate 40 tom of said cup-s apedclamp therefrom to prevent rotation of the lead during use of the pencil.

. 18. A pencil comprising a casing having a tapered end with an opening at the tip for insertion of a lead, a clamping on -within the casing for receiving the lead y insertion from the exterior into said opening, propelling mechanism comprising a plunger rod extending through the bottom of said cup and having an enlargement thereon to cause said clamp to return to its initial position, and an abutment within the casing in position to receive the cup when the plunger is withdrawn and hold said cup in aline- ,ment'with said opening while the lead is inserted.

19. A pencil comprising a casing having a W. said lead opening, a cup-shaped lead clamp mounted on said rod, and an elongated sharp edge on. the rod within'the cup adapted to co-operate with thelatter to hold a lead lead opening in one en 'while said gui e holds such lead opening in one end thereof, a lead clam within said casing, a lunger rod 'slida 1e through one end of t e clamp i5! position to engagethe inner end of said means for operating said rod to cause sai clamp to en age an inner surface of the easing near sai opening to hold the clamp relativel stationary whlle continued movement of tie lunger toward said opening ejects the lea a ide within the casing or said clamp to -ho d the latter in alinement with said openin to facilitate the insertion of a new lead t rough said opennig into said clamp, and a limit stop at the inner end'of said uide to limit the inward movement of the c amp whilesaid rod is restored to initial position relative to said clamp, said rod being enlarged at oneend to draw said clamp to its lnitial position. 21. A pencil comprising a h'svi a lead 0 ening in one end thereo a le clamp within said casing, means for bold ing the clam within said casing with its receiving end in alinement with said opening and guiding said clamp for red meating movements toward and from sai opening, spaced-apart abutments for limitin the reciprocating movements of said c amp alongsaid guide, and means for ad'usting the position of the lead relative to sai opening com rising a plunger associated with said lea clamp to move the same against one of said abutments to hold the clamp in open position in said guide to receive a new lead inserted through said 0 nin said plunger bein also movable "t roug clamp towar said opening to eject the lead when the clampenga es the other abutment.-

.100'. said 22. A pencil comprisi-n a holderhaving a thereof, an elongated cupped lead clamp within said older, an and or block having a guide extending along the same concentric with said holder, said guide being adapted to receive said clamp to hold the same for reciprocatory movements toward and from said opening while in alinement therewith, an actuating rod slidable through the bottom of said cup-shaped clamp toward and from said opening but adapted to engagethebottom away from sai opening along said guide and spaced-apartllimit stops. within sai V lead through said opening, the other vlimit sto being at the inner end of saidguide to ena Ie the rodto move throu h the clamp away from the o nin tom of'the cupape clamp against such other limit sto in lead-receiving position clamp in alinement with said opening.

and raw the botll of said eup-shaged clamp to move the latter largement on the rod within the cup having opening.

24. pencil comprising a casing having a lead opening in one end, a rod slidablv mounted inthe casing in alinement with said lead openin a cup-shaped lead clamp slidably mounte on said rod, and an ena lead engaging knife edge directed toward said lead opening.

25. A pencil comprising an outer casing, an anchorin cured to sai casing, pencil lead propelling, retractin and ex elling mechanism mounted on sai anchor ng block, said pencil lead,- propelling, retractingand expelling mechamsm comprising a lead guide formed. as an integral artof said blockand projecting in lead-gui ing position'in advance thereof,

and means carried by said casing for operating said encil lead-propelling, retracting and expel ing mechamsm. v

'26. A pencil comprising an outer casing eadblock carried within and se-' having one end shaped with a lead opening therein, an anchoring block within said casin said block bein positioned-in spaced re ation to said, lea o ening and having an axial bore exten ing therethrou h, inte ral tubular rtions on opposite sldes of said block rming continuations of said bore and providing a tubular guide, pencil-lead prope ling, retract-ing and expelling mechanism associated with said guide and comprising a spirally slotted sleeve mounted on said block on that side thereof remote from the lead opening and concentrically with said guide, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeve relatively to said guide but permitting rotary movement relatively thereto, an

oper'ating head at that end of the casing opposite the lead opening, and means connected between said operating head and said spirally slotted sleeve for rotating the latter to secure the operation of said pencil lead-propelling, retracting, and expelling mechanism.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this .specificat-ion'on this 6th day of 55 November AQ'D. 1920.

a WALTER A. SHEAFFER.

JIMQS' I. 

